MLBA at Pride

MLBA TO DISTRIBUTE TRANSGENDER LEGAL RESOURCES AND THE ONLINE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY AT PRIDE

This year, MLBA will distribute materials educating attorneys and lay persons regarding legal issues specific to the transgender community. The materials will focus on transgender issues pertaining to criminal, housing, employment, and immigration law. The MLBA booth will have handouts for each topic. Handouts and more in depth information concerning each topic area will be made available online at the MLBA website by June 25th.

MLBA members have the added benefit of being part of the MLBA Online Membership Directory. This year, copies of the entire Online Membership Directory will be made available to anyone asking for a list of our member attorneys as a resource. We are also asking our members to let us know if they would like to be listed as a resource for transgender clients and will be highlighting these names in the directory handout. If you are an MLBA member attorney and wish to be highlighted as a transgender resource, then please email Julie Plumitis at Julie.plumitis@gmail.com. If you are an MLBA member in good standing and would like to be part of the Online Membership Directory in time for the Pride handout, applications must be submitted by June 15th. Information and the application for the directory can be found at http://www.mnlavbar.org/directory.htm.

We still need PRIDE volunteers for the MLBA and Lambda Legal booths. Please contact Jenny Ryan at Jennyryan@gmail.com if you are interested. Thank you to those who have already signed up!

IMMIGRATION LAW 101
June 23rd @ Noon, University of Minnesota Law School

On June 23, 2010, at noon, in conjunction with 2010 Pride, MLBA will kick-off its "LGBT Law 101: A CLE Series" with LGBT Immigration Law 101. Angela Bortel, an accomplished Immigration attorney, will present on the key issues facing LGBT immigrants and what you need to know as attorneys representing LGBT immigrants or as attorneys interested in this important issue. The CLE will be at the University of Minnesota Law School.

Lunch is free for attendees with your choice of a ham, turkey, or veggie-avocado sandwich. Please RSVP to events@mnlavbar.org and note what kind of sandwich you would like.

1 Elimination of Bias CLE Credit in Minnesota is being applied for.

SAVE THE DATE!
MLBA PRIDE EVENT ON JUNE 24TH

Celebrate pride with a guided tour of “Love Never Dies”, an international group exhibition that explores themes of marriage, family, relationships, aging and generational change in the LGBTQ communities. Curated with the Walker Art Center. Form + Content Gallery, 210 North 2nd Street. Happy hour to follow. MLBA will be inviting members of the LGBT Therapist Network and National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association – Minnesota Chapter, to join us for this special event. Location and time for the tour and happy hour to be announced.

MSBA MEMBERS NEEDED TO SUPPORT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN MINNESOTA
June 25th at 9:30 a.m.

On June 25th, 2010, the Minnesota State Bar Association will consider a resolution asking the Association to take a policy position in favor of same-sex marriage in Minnesota during the Assembly meeting. This is a great opportunity to take another step forward in the fight for equality. Unfortunately, this resolution will likely be met with some opposition. Therefore, we are asking all MLBA members who are also MSBA members in good standing, to attend the Assembly meeting and voice their support in favor of this resolution. If you are a member in good-standing with the Minnesota State Bar Association, then you have a right to speak at the Assembly meeting. We hope to see you there! If you have questions, please contact MLBA Co-Chair David Ahlvers at (612) 656-4247 or david@familysolutionslaw.com.

2010 PRIDE EVENTS

LAWS AFFECTING THE LGBT COMMUNITY: Where Are We Now?
Friday, June 18th, 12:00-1:30 p.m. RSVP by June 14th!
Registration and lunch begins at 11:45 a.m.

Jane Bowman of Project 515 will discuss the changing legal landscape affecting LGBT individuals in Minnesota. Phil Duran of Outfront Minnesota will present on the current cases effecting transgender rights and marriage. A discussion of current topics and trends in the LGBT legal community will follow. The presentation and lunch are free. 1 Elimination of bias credit will be applied for.

*Please register by June 14th with Autumn Nelson via e-mail: axnelson@rkmc.com or call at (612)349-0885

Location: Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., 2800 LaSalle Plaza, 800 LaSalle Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55402

Parking information: Park in the LaSalle Garage located on 9th Street between LaSalle Avenue and Hennepin Avenue. Parking validation will be provided at registration.

PROJECT 515 PRIDE EVENT @ LUSH
Saturday, June 19th at 7:00 p.m.

Project 515 is kicking off Pride with a gathering at LUSH in Northeast Minneapolis at 7p.m. on Saturday, June 19th. Cover is $5.15 with all proceeds going to Project 515, an initiative to ensure that same-sex couples and their families have equal rights and considerations under Minnesota law.

36th ANNUAL FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION SEMINAR AND COCKTAIL RECEPTION
Tuesday, June 22nd at the Guthrie Theatre

The Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the Chapter’s Diversity Committee would like to extend an invitation to the members of MLBA to attend the Annual FBA Seminar and cocktail reception that will follow.

The luncheon keynote speaker this year will be University of Maryland professor Sherilynn Ifill, who will be speaking on the topic of judicial diversity.

For more information including the seminar agenda and registration materials, see: http://www.mnd.uscourts.gov/Press_Releases/

GLBT LEGISLATION AND ALERTS

GOVERNOR PAWLENTY VETOS BILL PROVIDING END OF LIFE PROTECTIONS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES

Governor Tim Pawlenty vetoed the Final Wishes/Wrongful Death bill that would have provided equal treatment for same sex couples facing end of life issues by offering basic end-of-life protections which are not currently provided for under Minnesota law. Surviving same sex partners would have had an equal opportunity to honor the final wishes of their deceased partners and to seek restitution following a wrongful death.

The Governor supported his veto by stating that the bill was unnecessary, that the law currently provides protections for same sex couples through other methods such as the creation of a will or the appointment of a personal representative. However, the bill would have given same sex couples statutory protection in an area where the GLBT community still faces discrimination.

To see Governor Pawlenty’s statement regarding the Final Wishes/Wrongful Death veto, see:

http://www.governor.state.mn.us/stellent/groups/public/documents/

IMPRISONMENT OF PROFESSOR PETER ERLINDER

On May 28th, Professor Peter Erlinder, a faculty member of William Mitchell College of Law, was taken into custody by the Rwandan government and charged with Promoting Genocide Ideology, a relatively new law in Rwanda. This charge comes years after he first began as lead defense counsel for those charged with genocide in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Although Professor Erlinder’s imprisonment does not necessarily relate to GLBT issues, it should be noted that he is a strong supporter of our community. Anyone wishing to learn more, or for information on what you can do to assist, please visit: http://www.wmitchell.edu/news/articles/default.asp?articleId=12257

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES THREE OPENINGS FOR NEWLY CREATED STATE GUARDIAN AD LITEM (GAL) BOARD

The State Guardian ad Litem Program has operated as part of the court system for the past eight years. In the 2010 session, the Minnesota Legislature established a new GAL Board within the Judicial Branch that will not be subject to the administrative control of the judiciary. The GAL Board will consist of seven members, three of whom will be appointed by the Supreme Court and four of whom will be appointed by the Governor. Candidates interested in applying for a GAL Board position should first review the posting (see below) and send a letter of interest and resume to Frederick Grittner, Clerk of the Appellate Courts, 305 Judicial Center, 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155, no later than June 30, 2010.

Please note that your application will be accessible to the public upon filing with the court. Do not include information in your application that you do not want the public to view. If you have questions about the State GAL Board, please contact GAL Program Analyst Resa Gilats at resa.gilats@courts.state.mn.us

For the full notice, see http://www.courts.state.mn.us/?page=3862&item=49366

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Job Opportunities posted
on MLBA website

MLBA receives a number of notices from employers seeking candidates for open positions. We try to post these on our web site regularly, and in fact have now created a specific page dedicated to sharing these opportunities.
Please click here for more information. http://www.mnlavbar.org/Employment.htm